Snack for cats: is it bad? Check out some brands and options

Anyone who has a pet knows how much they love snacks. But to know which (and if) your little friend can eat, it is ideal to ask the veterinarian, in order not to cause any harm to the animal’s health.

Following, you can better understand this point, check out some of the snack options and also understand how to include them in your cat’s food . Check out:

Contents

Are cat snacks bad for you?

Snacks are not harmful to cats, as long as they are not the basis of their food. So, just as it is recommended for humans to maintain a balanced diet, so it is with animals.

Thus, the snacks should serve only as an alternative to take the cat out of its feeding routine, providing a different experience to the palate.

Therefore, it is okay to occasionally offer them to the feline, as a reward or even a treat. But you have to be careful about the quantities, as the excess of snacks (or the substitution of the food for them) can be bad.

This is because industrialized products usually have a higher caloric value and contain preservatives – which can harm the pet’s body .

In this sense, a good option is to choose “natural snacks” instead of industrialized ones. That is, you can choose to offer some fruit as an aperitif, for example.

How to give snacks to the cat?

To know the ideal amount of snack that your cat can eat, you need to seek help from a veterinarian, as this varies according to the age, weight and size of the animal.

As for the occasions when the appetizer can be offered, an alternative is to take the opportunity to pique the cats’ curiosity. So, for example, you can hide the snack inside a ball (or other toy) to encourage the pet to play.

Offering the cat a snack, in addition to stimulating the palate, can also sharpen the feline’s curiosity and desire to play.

Another option, widely used by trainers, is to give the snack when the kitten does something positive – like obeying a command, returning home after a “little say”, urinating in the appropriate place, etc.

It is not recommended, however, to give snacks to the cat (or another animal) at random times, as the pet will not associate this appetizer with a “reward”, but as something usual.

What can cause you to end up eating too much and / or become unaccustomed, and you can even leave out the main food due to the snacks.

That is why it is so important to maintain a routine and make it an occasional pleasure.

What is the best snack for my cat?

When choosing the snack for your cat, you must take into account the age and size of the animal, in order to choose the one that suits the pet’s needs.

There are those who prefer to give “homemade” snacks, such as fruits. There is no harm in doing this, but you must choose options that will not harm the cat’s intestinal flora.

Thus, some allowed fruits are: banana , apple , watermelon and mango . Or, you can also choose vegetables such as carrots , cauliflower or pumpkin .

In cases of doubt, it is always recommended to seek help from a veterinarian.

As for industrialized snacks, there are many brands and options. Check out some of them:

Dreamies

The Dreamies Snack is intended for adult cats and is available in 3 different flavors: meat, chicken or cheese. The mark also indicates that the snacks are enriched with the following nutrients:

  • Vitamin A;
  • Vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12;
  • Vitamin D3;
  • Vitamin E;
  • Vitamin K3;
  • Folic Acid (vitamin B9).

In addition to other minerals such as zinc and copper. So that, although it is a snack, it can contribute to the animal’s health if administered properly.

As for the price *, the package is 40g and costs around R $ 5 (any of the flavors).

* Prices consulted in November 2020. Prices may change.

Whiskas

The Whiskas brand is one of the most famous when it comes to cat food. But, in addition to the rations and sachets, it also offers snacks. One of the most popular is the Whiskas Anti Hairball Snack (for adult cats ).

As the name suggests, in addition to being an aperitif to the feline, this snack also helps to prevent the formation of hairballs in the animal’s gastric cavity – which is common in cats.

As for its formulation, it is a very palatable snack (pleasant to the animal’s taste), it is crunchy on the outside and has a filling. In addition, it has proteins and nutrients such as the minerals Calcium and Phosphorus.

The available packaging is 40g and the price * of this product can be around R $ 7.

* Prices consulted in November 2020. Prices may change.

Friskies

The Petisco Gatos Friskies is from the Purina brand and is available in 3 versions: chicken, liver and turkey; shrimp, salmon and tuna; lamb, pork and beef. This variety is interesting because you can vary the time to buy for your kitten, so that he does not get sick of the taste.

According to the nutritional information presented by the brand, this snack has a high protein content , in addition to some vitamins (A, D3, E, K3, B12) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium).

Omega 3 and Omega 6 are also present in the composition, which are the source of numerous benefits – such as cholesterol control and strengthening of the defense system.

Regarding the price *, the package is 40g and costs around R $ 5.

* Prices consulted in November 2020. Prices may change.

DentaLife

The DentaLife Petisco (for adult cats) is also from the Purina brand, but has a different proposal from the others previously presented. As you can see by the name of the product, it aims to help in cleaning the teeth of the feline

Taking care of feline oral health is also important. So, opting for a snack that collaborates with this can be a good idea!

This is possible due to the formulation of this appetizer, made with a porous and crunchy texture to facilitate chewing. Then, the animal’s teeth penetrate the snack, favoring its cleaning – which contributes to oral health , reducing the accumulation of residues and tartar.

In addition, its composition includes calcium , taurine and vitamins (A, D3, E, K3, B12).

The price * of this product is around R $ 6, available in the 40g packaging.

* Prices consulted in November 2020. Prices may change.

Taking care of the well-being of our little companions is very important. So, always care for the follow-up with a trusted veterinarian, even before making small treats, such as snacks. If you want to see more content like this, just access the ” Pet ” tab here from Hickey solution!

Loading...